Auden’s Col — India’s Toughest Trekking Expedition

 Brought to life by John Bicknell Auden, the Auden’s Col trek takes you to a whopping height of 18,000 ft in nearly 15 days covering approximately 95 km of distance on foot. Encapsulated in the majestic state of Uttarakhand, the trek to Audens Col offers a uniquely thrilling, rich, and flavourful trekking experience.

Although there are innumerable ways of reaching Gangotri, the starting point of the Audens Col trek, the easiest way to access the same is through an appeasing drive from the city of Dehradun.

Dehradun is an easily accessible city, well connected with various means of transport, and lies roughly 250 km away from Gangotri. A smooth 8–9 hour long drive can conveniently transfer you from the city to the enchanting Gangotri Valley perched at an altitude of 10,200 ft.

Since Gangotri lies as high as 10,200 ft, you must spend an additional day at the valley to facilitate acclimatization. You can use this day to explore the beautiful valley as well as witness the soul-warming energy of the evening Aarti.

The actual trek to Audens Col begins on the third day with an 8 km trek to the Nalla Camp. The Nalla Camp rests at 12,300 ft on the fascinating Nalla meadow nestled in the Rudugaira Valley. Initially, you will trek alongside the Bhagirathi River to enter dense forests of Cedar and Pine Trees. You will then cut paths with the campsite at Bhojkharak to enter enchanting pasture lands that eventually open into the Nalla Camp pitched on a mesmerizing meadow on the banks of the Rudugaira River.

Distanced approximately 7 km from the Nalla Camp is the Rudugaira Camp, located at an altitude of 14,300 ft. The trek from Nalla Camp to the Rudugaira Camp is short but exceptionally daunting; you will ascend by 2000 ft in approximately 7–8 hours to cover a stretch of merely 7 km this day. As you gain height, you will be able to catch glimpses of the surreal Audens Col Pass as well as the fascinating Rudugaira and Jogin Peaks in the foreground. The trek to Rudugaira camp is bound to leave you exhausted and tired. Spending an additional day at the Rudugaira Camp will help you catch hold of the supersonically changing environment around you and will also let you relax and rejuvenate in a refreshing vicinity.

You will trek towards the Audens Col Base Camp via the Gangotri Base Camp the next day. The trek from Rudugaira Camp to the Audens Col Base Camp is interesting, adventurous, and equally thrilling. At first, you will walk over moraines and then a ridge to reach the Bakriwala Camp, ahead of which lies a gurgling stream. After crossing that stream, you will find yourself walking over another not so steep ridge with loose scree and gravel. A gradual descend from the ridge end will lead you to the exhilarating Gangotri Base Camp, beyond which lies the overwhelming and thrill-generating Audens Col Base Camp situated at an altitude of 15,600 ft. At this point, you will be blown away by the magnificently clear sights of the gully connecting Audens Col.

You are to trek to the Khatling Glacier via Audens Col the next day. For this, you will begin by trekking along moraines with the relentlessly gorgeous Rudugaira Glacier at your right, looking back at you from a distance. Soon, you will enter a gully that will open into a flat surface called the Audens Col Pass. Devour the bewildering panoramic views of the unbelievably fascinating mountainscapes before you, with the sky-high Gangotri and Jogin Peaks finely standing in their grandeur. The descend to the monstrous Khatling glacier begins at the farthermost end of the Audens Col Pass. You will be terrified by the steep descent to the Khatling glacier but, that is what makes this trek all the more electric and jaw-dropping.

8 km from the Khatling glacier is the Zero Point, an enlivening campsite snuggled amidst rough and fierce-faced landscapes with loose scree and gravel. You will traverse a few crevasses and trek over knee-deep snow sheets to ultimately reach the campsite at Zero Point.

A rest day at Zero Point can help you grasp some rest as well as restore energy for the activities ahead. This day is usually added as a buffer day in most itineraries and is used need-based.

An 8 km trek from Zero Point through fresh greenery and grand mountains will lead you to Chowki, a vast grassland. This trek from Zero Point to Chowki is of moderate grade, wherein enthralling and delighting meadows open before you with the Bhilangna River sneaking in and out of the frame.

Nestled in the foothills of the Thalaysagar Peak of the Western Garhwal Himalayas is the Masar Lake distanced approximately 8 km from Chowki. The trek from Chowki to Masar Lake is short, easy, and appeasing, covered in about 5–6 hours at most. Masar Lake, perched at an altitude of 12,300 ft, is an emerald blue, crystal clear lake that perfectly mirrors the surrounding landscapes in a heartbreakingly beautiful way, especially highlighting the Thalaysagar Peak.

You are to trek to Vasuki Tal enroute Mayali Pass, the next day. The trail between Masar Tal and the Vasuki Tal stretches over 12 km in total. During this trek, you will walk over huge rocks and boulders along steep and daunting ascents to first reach Mayali Pass, a flat ridge perched at an elevation of 16,400 ft. You will then trek with caution along steep descents to reach Vasuki Tal, located at 13,800 ft; this is followed by a trek to Kedarnath the next day.

A 7 km trek from Vasuki Tal via Vasuki Top to Kedarnath will bring you down to a height of 11,600 ft. You will walk over a ridge with boulders and loose rock to first ascend to Vasuki Top, post that, you will walk along steep descents to reach the holy Kedarnath.

Distanced 14 km away from Kedarnath is the Gaurikund, the final destination on the itinerary. An easy trek along well-pathed trails, through serene sceneries, will finally bring you back to a homely altitude of roughly 6,400 ft.

And to wrap everything up into a wild, electric, and memorable journey, a 10-hour long drive from Gaurikund to Dehradun will make for a cherry on the cake, bringing everything to a sweet end.